GRAVE-ROBBERS who targeted plots in a Nuneaton cemetery were just 11 and seven years old.

Sentimental trinkets which disappeared from the graves were found adorning the children's den.

Police discovered up to 20 items, including a cuddly toy thought to have been taken from a child's grave, carefully arranged in a den beneath bushes next to the town's Bucks Hill Cemetery.

Now, the two tearful and remorseful culprits have penned 'open' letters to apologise for their actions - and police are satisfied the youngsters meant no malice.

One of the letters handed to police said: "I am sorry for taking those items. I will never do it again.

"I have learned a lesson. I am really, really, really sorry. I will never do it again. We are getting punished."

The other letter said they took the items to make their den "look nice."

It added: "I have learned a really big lesson never to steal again."

Insp Chris Walton, of Nuneaton police, said a member of the public had alerted police to the thefts.

He said: "Several items had been removed from graves and they were found arranged on the floor in nearby bushes to create a den. They included a cuddly toy, sentimental trinkets and flowers."

Insp Walton said police inquiries had led them to the seven-year-old and the 11-year-old.

He said: "Their parents have been very supportive in terms of their wrong-doing and the children were very, very remorseful.

"We are in no doubt that no malice was intended, and the children have been given a police verbal warning and we have left it to parental discipline. The children have also written letters of apology."

Bucks Hill Cemetery is run by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

All the items taken from the graves are now in the hands of the council's cemeteries officer Diane Bird. She is looking to reunite them with their owners.

Insp Walton said: "We don't know who these items belong to and we would ask people to contact Diane Bird at the Town Hall.

"We can then direct these letters written by the children to them as a way of apology."